Man United was wrong about Cristiano Ronaldo replacement and Liverpool will benefit for years

There was a time when it seemed that Cody Gakpo might well end up at Manchester United, rather than Liverpool.

Before Christmas, Manchester United was considering a move for the Dutchman, as per The Athletic, and he may have been on the agenda in a December meeting between football director John Murtough and the head of his agency, SEG.

The Red Devils needed a new forward after ripping up Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract mid-season following his extraordinary interview with Piers Morgan, but decided not to pursue Gakpo in the end.

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They didn’t think he was affordable, having already spent $283m (£227m/€264m) in the summer transfer window, and they also weren’t sure if he could thrive as a number nine.

Some at Old Trafford ‘questioned his suitability’ for the role on the basis that he ‘operated mostly on the left’, coming inside on his right foot. There were concerns that he was too similar to Marcus Rashford in this regard.

When Gakpo ultimately joined Liverpool in a $55m (£44m/€51m) deal, some scratched their heads. Yes, there had been glimpses of the 23-year-old as a central option for the Netherlands at the World Cup, but he had indeed made his name as a left winger at PSV.

Forty-two of his 47 appearances for the Eredivisie outfit in 2021/22 had come in that position, as had all 24 of his outings prior to the tournament in Qatar.

Liverpool already had Luis Díaz and Diogo Jota on its books, so why was it investing heavily on another player with a similar specialism?

As it turned out, Jürgen Klopp had seen something. He believed that Gakpo had many of the ingredients to thrive instead as a false nine, and he’s been proven right.

The numbers haven’t been spectacular — seven goals and three assists in 26 matches — but that’s perhaps to be expected in the initial adjustment period.

More importantly, his performances have been highly encouraging after a quiet start. Overall, Gakpo was one of Liverpool’s best players in the second half of the campaign, carrying out the unfamiliar and complex false nine role with great aplomb.

He’s not only proven to be ‘suitable’ as a center-forward, but he could also actually be Klopp’s preferred option in that position next season given his near-complete skillset.

Where Manchester United feared a lack of balance alongside a right-footed left-winger, Gakpo’s withdrawn starting position should allow Díaz to attack the box freely.

Erik ten Hag’s side finished above its arch-rival in the Premier League table, denying it Champions League football, so probably won’t be regretting its failure to sign Gakpo yet.

But in the long term, there is a very strong chance that he may be seen as the one that got away.